List of Governors Generals of Bengal and India

Governor General 

Notable work and important developments during their tenure

Lord Warren Hastings (1773 - 1785)

• He served the position of the inaugural Governor of the Fort William Presidency (Bengal).
• He was the head of the Supreme Council of Bengal and effectively the first Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785.
• He and Robert Clive were recognised for establishing the foundations of the British Empire in India.

Lord Cornwallis (1786 - 1793)

• He was previously involved in the American Revolutionary War, where he surrendered to the Americans at Yorktown.
• In 1786, he agreed to become the Governor-General of Bengal on the condition that he would also hold supreme military command.
• He developed the Cornwallis Code, which contained provisions related to civil, policing, and judicial administration in British India. 
• Under his supervision, the Cornwallis Code was developed, which outlined provisions for civil, policing, and judicial administration in British India.
• Lord Cornwallis is recognised for establishing the groundwork for British rule in India; some of the key reforms included:
  • He implemented a policy of appointing individuals based on merit, which set the foundation for the Indian Civil Service.
  • He introduced the separation of the three branches of service: commercial, judicial, and revenue. 
    • The judicial powers of collectors were removed, and their role was limited to revenue collection.
  • Cornwallis is widely recognised in Bengal history for his association with the Permanent Settlement. 

Sir John Shore (1793 - 1798)

• Unlike Lord Cornwallis, Shore held differing views regarding the permanent settlement.
• He believed it was necessary to gather adequate information on land resources and the capabilities of the ryots(peasant cultivators) before reaching a permanent settlement.

Lord Arthur Wellesley (1798-1805)

• During his tenure, the fourth and final Anglo-Mysore war took place, resulting in the death of Tipu.
• Also, the Second Anglo-Maratha War occurred, leading to the defeat of Bhonsle, Scindia, and Holkar.
• Wellesley implemented the "subsidiary alliance" policy, which was accepted by various rulers.
• His time as Governor-General also saw the passing of the Censorship of the Press Act in 1799 and the establishment of Fort William College in 1800, aimed at training civil servants.

Lord George Barlow (1805 - 1807)

• He assumed the role of the acting Governor General of Fort William in Bengal.

Lord Minto-I (1807 - 1813)

• His successful negotiation and signing of the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809 with Punjab ruler Ranjit Singh marked a notable achievement. 

Francis Rawdon Hastings (1813 - 1823)

• During his tenure, the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814 – 1816), also known as the Gorkha War, was fought. The war ended with the signing of the Sugauli Treaty in 1816, which ceded some of the Nepalese-controlled territories to the EIC.
• He oversaw the third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818), which resulted in the end of the Peshwa system, and Marathas were forced to accept the subsidiary alliance system. 
• Lord Hastings introduced the “Policy of Paramountcy”, which affirmed the authority of the Governor General to intervene in the internal matters of the Indian princely states and, if required, to override their power. 

Lord Amherst (1823 - 1828)

• He played a significant role in the First Anglo-Burmese War, which concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• During his tenure, the Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824 occurred, which arose due to British interference with Indian social taboos.
• In 1824, under his leadership, the Sanskrit College was established in Calcutta, aimed at promoting Sanskrit education and scholarship.

Governor General of India

Notable Work 

Lord William Bentinck (1828 - 1835)

• He is renowned for implementing social and educational reforms in India.
• Bentinck abolished the practice of Sati through the Bengal Sati Regulation Act of 1829. He also worked to suppress female infanticide and human sacrifice.
• In collaboration with Thomas Babington Macaulay, Bentinck played a crucial role in establishing English as an instructional language in India.

Sir Charles Metcalfe (1835 - 1836)

• Lord Metcalfe, also known as the Liberator of Indian Press, introduced liberal press policies.
• He played a crucial role in finalising the Amritsar Treaty with Ranjit Singh in 1809, ensuring stability in Punjab until the first Sikh war in 1845.

Lord Auckland (1836 - 1842)

• In 1838, Lord Auckland signed the Tripartite Treaty with Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire and Shah Shuja of Afghanistan.

Lord Ellenborough (1842 - 1844)

• His administration proved highly divisive, as his aggressive policies strained British India's relations with neighbouring regions.
• The civilian population was displeased with him due to his misguided understanding of Indian issues.

Lord Hardinge-I (1844 - 1848)

• He was involved in the First Anglo-Sikh War.

Lord Dalhousie (1848 - 1856)

• Dalhousie's main focus in India was consolidating British power.
• He spearheaded several progressive reforms in India, encompassing the establishment of railways, telegraph and postal networks, as well as the development of public infrastructure.
  • The completion of the Ganga Canal was also achieved during his tenure.
• He is most remembered for the controversial Doctrine of Lapse policy, which is believed by many to have contributed to the Indian Revolt of 1857. 
  • Through the Doctrine of Lapse, he annexed states such as Satara, Oudh, and Jhansi, which contributed to discontent among Indian soldiers under Company rule.
• Lord Dalhousie is often considered the "Maker of modern India." 
• He established Anglo-vernacular schools, initiated social reforms such as banning female infanticide, and believed in the superiority of Western administrative systems.
• He started engineering colleges to support the public works department and implemented military reforms. 
• He abolished the practice of branding criminals.
• He expanded the Legislative Council of India. 
• He reformed the civil services by introducing open competition for recruitment.
• He oversaw the annexation of Punjab and parts of Burma through wars with local rulers, including the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

Lord Canning (1856 - 1857)

• He served as Governor-General of India and later became the first Viceroy of India after power was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown following the 1857 revolt.
• His initial actions were passing the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 and the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856. 
• The Revolt of 1857 happened during his governorship. 
• After quelling the rebellion, he implemented a policy of clemency, choosing not to punish the sepoys.